W. CHARLES AKINS HIGH SCHOOLCAREER AND TECTINOLOGY EDUCATION

10701 S. 1"t Street Austin Texas 78748

September 8, 2006

To Whom lt May Concern:

I served on the Texas Educator's Excellence Award grant committee at Akins High School. I attendedcomminee and subcommittee meetings and offered input into how grant funds might be allocated based onthe performance measures outlined in the application.

As a member of one of three subcommittees, I participated in discussions regarding incentives for teachersand statt based on collaboration and overall student achievement. Additional discussions focused onfaculty/staff professionalism, personalization, and commitment.

As a whole, the committee discussed how the Texas Educator's Excellence Award could promote personalaccountability as Akins High Schoolcontinues its redesign process. While the application process movedforward, I helped revise the plan drafts and offer support of the application development. I also participatedin campus-wide discussions and answered questions of the taculty and staff regarding the plan outcomes.

I am the teacher of record for the Management Internship Program at Akins High School in the Career andTechnology Department.

Sincerely,

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r l 'Tammy gaesarMIP Te4Aher/Coordinator841-9775

W. CHARLES AKINS HIGH SCHOOLCAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

10701 S. 1"'street Austin. Texas 78748

September 8, 2006

To Whom lt May Concernl

I am the Career and Technology Education departmenl chair and I participated on the Governors ExcellenceGrant committee at Akins High.

I attended several meeting and provided input pertaining to faculty/stafl allocations based on the grantcriteria. The committee discussed how the money could be distributed based on evidence ot studentperformance, teacher collaboration, and teacher/staff commitment. The committee considered the work ofAkins High School's redesign efforts and how this endeavor can be further supported through the TexasEducator Excellence Award.

Sincerelv.r - f , , ' / ) t ) ,\,k 4_ zzL-Jronn r,n.

CATE Department Chaira41-97 40

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August 31, 2006

Texas Educator Excellence GrantW Charles Akins High School

Dear Sir,

My name is Janet Larkin. I am a teacher at Akins High School I am also a member of the Akins High Schoolcommittee writing the W Charles Akins Texas Educator Excellence Grant.

Our committee is composed of instructional Iead teachers, department chairs, teachers from all grade levels,teachers ftom all core content areas, and teachers of electives including world languages, fine arts andCATE. I was so impressed with the diversity of interests represented by these teachers

I was even more impressed the way this group first met to outl ine the task on August 11, a teacherpreparation day. Then on the first day of school, August 15, our committee met lo form sub commtteescharged with the task of drafting segments of the 2006-2007 goals and criteria needed for the distribution ofthis incentive grant. These subcommittees met, drafred, and sent their proposals to our grant facilitator. Shecompiled them for presentation to the whole group During this fourth meeting, the whole committee refinedthe draft proposals to the satisfaction of the group The group met two more times to improve our proposalas we recerved new information from our districl office.

I am pleased with our outcomes. Our goals are focused on our students needs as we continue our workincreasing their academic readiness for their post high school aspirations

Sincerely,,1 ,/

a 41- /L.y'),v 1 fit:.!-/t'i ,c'Janet M Larkrn, M.Ed.W Charles Akins Hioh School

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Excellence Committee Meeting MinutesAugust 15, 2006

4:30-5:45 p.m., Room 115

Committee members in attendance: Donna Detjery Grant Coordinator; Maureen siegel,Theatre Arts 9-12; David Pollev, Choir 9-12; Mary Racine, ELA"L2,Campus ILT; DianneMaddox, Academy Coordinator, science 10; Jodi Leckbee, Academy Coordinator, ELA11.; Linda Evary Academy Coordinator, ELA 1,2; Stephan Autrey, Math Dept. Charr,Algebra 9; Cecilia Gutierrez, Academy Coordinator, ELA 12; Janet Larkin, ELA Dept.Chair, ELA 10-12; sharon Kay Fayad, social stucries Dept. chair, world History; LeannTrylon, Science Dept. Chair, Env. Sys. & IpC 10; Tammy Caesar, MIp 11_12; TonyaKallfelz, Dance 9-12; Penola Edwards, 9th Gracre Team Leader, Algebra 9; vivian

-

Holland-Medina, Fine Arts Dept. Chair, Art 9-72; Mary smith, wJrld Geography 9;Crystal Mitchell, 9n Grade Team Leader, IpC 9, AVID 10.

Donna Detjen chaired the meeting

Item 1: Explanation of the Texas Educators Excelence Grant (TEEG) was presented.Print information was given to alr participants, incruding: Requirements ftr GrantApplication; sample grant application information; uarJ copy of power point withinformation specific to Akins HS; and Key points- Akins is eligible to receive $23u,000;and graphic/visual chart created by cecilia Gutierrez for items-discussed at previousmeeting. Akins' eligibility is based on TAKS progress from 2004-05, but the awarct offunds will depend on what is done this year.

Item 2: Purpose of the Excellence Committee is to create an apprication/pran for AkinsHigh school. Additlonal handouts were given showing AISD;i Blackshear and oaksprings applications. Requirements of the plan include meetings of a committee thatrepresent Akins' faculty and staff. The committee includes teacirer representatives fromeach academy, each grade level, and each clepartment.

Item 3: Timeline is short. Draft plan will be presented to Akins' Campus AdvisorvCouncil (CAC) on August 30; Akins' CLT on August 31; AISD Cabinet &sup^erintendent on september 5; District A<lvisory Council (DAC) Executive Committeeon september 5; DAC on september 19; AISD Board of Trustees on september g and 25;AISD state & Federal Accountability office on septe mber 29; and finai submission toTEA on October 5.

Item 4: Open discussion of what to include in the Akins, plan. We must showimprovement. Everyone makes a di{ference in student success. The time investmenr rnadvisory, when done well, will move student learning. what is the ranguage we need touse to get what we want/need? How will rAKS scores be considered?-wh"o1e schoolzIndividual class? Combination? should teachers who have been at Akins since 2004_05

receive a higher amount than newer teachers since their work made us eligible? Is therea rollover of funds? No. This will be based on year-by-year eligibility. To continue to beeligible, we must continue to show "big-gains" growth.

Item 5: Larger committee divided into three subcommittees for the purpose of focusingon three main elements of the application/p1an: Student Achieaenenf: Janet Larkin.Dianne Maddox, Maureen Siegel, Mary Smith, and Steven Autrey; ProfessionnlisnrLinda Evan, Sharon Kay Fayad, Penola Edwards, Tanya Ka1lfe1z, David Polley, PatLopinski (added after meeting), and Ursula Pinner (added after meeting); LearningCommunity/T e achers Working To gethe r/Collnboration: J odi Leckbee, Vivian Holland-Medina, Crystal Mitchell, Tammy Caeser, Leann Tripson, and Mary Racine.Subcommittees will meet through August 23, and report back to committee at large onAugust 25 (at 4:30 in room 115).

Item 6: The draft plan will be presented to the CAC for a Yes/No vote on August 30. Ifthe CAC votes to make application, the plan will move forward to the faculty on Friday,September 1.

Excel lence CommitterStudent Achievement Subcommittee

Meeting Minutes

5tu.lettt A.ltier em.ntTAKS -- hnploved scores of 5ll'o or more over last vear fol all students ( all sub

categones)

Class Passing RateAvcrage of all classes over semester must be 80% passingAverage of all classes over full year must be 90% passirrg

(l have a line that says Target 10% il this categorv-- r,r,'hat n as that in refcrence to?)

Student AttendanceWhole school at 95%

TutoringAccurate documentationListing b,v Hours: 1-10; 11-30; 31+Listing bv tvpe: TAKS, class, Recoverv, Saturclay School, SAT, PSAT

Consensus was that incentive should apply to entire school u.ith the following conditions75% would go to teachers teaching 5 classes25% n'ould go to all support staff -- monitors, teaching assistants, builcling manager,

support staff, librarians, sp.ec., custodians, etc. with the exception of the Tutoring and ClassPassing Rate Categories

Some concern about coaches -- teach 4 classes but have athlctic period (grant salrs no athlehcs)Somc conccrn about retroactive to those r,r'ho were here when school achievement resulted inbecoming cligible for grant

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Excellence Committee Meetins MinutesAugust25,2006

4:30-6:00 p.m., Room 115

Committee members in attendance: Donna Detjen, Crant Coordinator; Mary Racine,ELA 1,2, Campus ILT; Jodi Leckbee, Academy Coordinator, ELA 11; Linda Evan,Academv Coordinator, ELA L2; Stephan Autrey, Math Dept. Chair, Algebra 9; CeciliaGutierrez, Academy Coordinator, ELA 72; Sharon Kav Fayad, Social Stuclies Dept.Chair, World History; Tammy Caesar, MIP 11-12; Crystal Mitchel1, 9th Grade TeamLeader, IPC 9, AVID 10; Patricia Lopinski, Sp. Ed. Chair; John Ellis, CATE Chair, ProjectLead The Way 9-12, Computer Applications 9-12; Ursula Pinner, LOTE Chair, French 9-

Donna Detjen chaired the meeting

Item 1: Subcommittees reported on progress of each group. There was still someconfusion as to how to make the points for each of the three areas represented theimportance of what is being done to support students.

Item 2: How can we keep the plan simple enough to meet the needs of the applicationand complex enough to reward and compensate the work that is done by the Akins'facultv and staff?

Item 3: Timeline is short. Plan will be compiled and presented to the Committee on themorning of August 30, before presentation to the CAC; Draft plan will be presented toAkins' CAC on the evening of August 30; Akins' CLT on August 31; Akins' Faculty &Staff for a vote on August 31 with votes tallied on September 1; AISD Cabinet &Superintendent on September 5; District Advisory Council (DAC) Executive Committeeon September 5; DAC on September 19; AISD Board of Trustees on September 8 and 25;AISD State & Federal Accountability Office on Septenber 29; and final submission toTEA on October 5.

Item 4: Open discussion of what to include in the Akins' plan. We must showimprovement. Everyone makes a difference in student success. Facilitating studentimprovement and continuing to move student learning will remain the focus of theAkins' facultv and staff.

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Members Present:Robert BaylessSharhonda BossierMary Alice DeikeChristina DeWirineCynthia DolphusLuis GarzaSue Gifien

August 30, 2006 Minutes of the Akins CAC

Liz GregoryAnne JonesJodi LeckbeeDallas LeeDianne MaddoxJulie MaloukisCorey Nichols

Norma NunezGloria RodriguezKim SaldanaAlfredo SantosAnne SherwoodJuanita SotoKelly Ward

Guests Present: Donna Detjen

Call to Order: Dianne Maddox called the meeting to order

Introduction of Members

Public Comments: None

Minutes of the Previous Meeting:Minutes were reviewed and anoroved as nritten

Unfinished Business:Selection ofRecording Secretary and

'l'imekeeper: Gloria Rodriguez agreed to be the recording

secretary and Sharhonda Bossier agreed to be the timekeeper for this year.Adoption of Operating Procedures and Meeting Protocols: A motion was made by Liz Gregory,

seconded by Julie Maloukis to accept the operating procedures and meeting protocol as written. All approved.Standardized Dress: Mary Alice Deike said that Parades has started their standardized dress this year

and it is successful. ls this something Akins wants to look into? It is a community, parent, teacher and studentdecision. If this is something that we do want to look into, then we must start no\ ,. There was a lot ofdiscussion with pros and cons. Anne Jones suggested that a subcommiftee be lormed to start looking into this ifthis is something we want to pursue. If you want to be on the subcommittee, email Anne by Friday. Thesubcommittee will need a leader and a person to record minutes. Repofis vn'ill be made back to the CAC as aregular agenda item. Mary Alice said that the CAC must make a decision by January if we are going to take itto the community. The decision to proceed must be made by looking at data andnotjust opinions.

New Business:Governor's Excellence Grant: Donna Detjen, Akins Grant Coordinator, presented information about the

grant. The CAC must vote, yes or no for Akins to pursue the grant. The grant will award Akins $230,000.Akins is eligible for this grant based on TAKS performance increase in 2004-05. The criteria fbr grantdisbursement will depend on hor.r'Akins performs in the current, 2006-2001 school year. Approval of the CACis the first step in the process of application. After much discussion, Julie Maloukis made a motion to continuethe applioation process for this grant. Christina DeWinne seconded the motion and all approved.

Agenda Items lbr the Next Meetinq September 13. 2006:ConstructionUpdates ChristinaDeWinneReflection of ho\\, we are doing, etc. - round tableDemographics and student count repofi -

Adiournment:

Governor's Educator Excellence Award Texas Educalor Excellence Grant

W. Charles Akins High School AustinEagle's Nest-August 11, 2006-1 1:00am- 12:15pm: Committee Mtg. Minutes

Attendance: Cecilia Gutierrez, Social Services Academy Coordinator & ELA 12; UrsulaPinner, LOTE Chair, French 9-12;Pat Lopinski, SpEd Chair; Vivian Holland-Medina.Fine Arts Rep, Art 9-12; Janet Larkin, ELA Chair,ELA 10 & \2; John Ellis, CATE Chair,Project Lead The Way 9-12, Computer Applications 9-12; Tammy Caesar, CATE RepMIP 12 and New'fech High Rep; Rob Cheshire. New Tech High Rep, World History l0;Linda Evan, ABLE Academy Coordinator, Eng 12; Mary Smith, 9'n Rep, WorldGeography 9; Mary Racine, ILT, ELA l2; Donna Detjen. Grants Coordinator

Participants received a Governor's Excellence folder with the following materials: PaperPower Point, "What's Required," handout; "Sample Criteria,/Perlbrmance Assessmentand Evaluation" (TEA one page), ProComp (Denver Professional CompensationSystem lor Teachers); eGRANTS TEA Application Guidelines Part 2: ProgramGuidelines and Use of Funds (37 pages).

Donna facilitated the meeting by Ieading participants through the paper copy oftheGovernor's Educalor Excellence Award Program slide sholl.: Program Description,Criteria for Campus Selection, Funding Rules, Definition of Classroom Teacher, How toAccess Funds, Incentive Plan Structure, Program Requirements, Information to Consider,Timeline, Resources.

Together we looked at and discussed the sample criteria from TEA and from the Denverschools.

Donna verbally shared criteria from Blackshear and Pecan Springs, two ofthe AustinBlueprint Schools.

Then participants suggested criteria to fit under STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT andPROFESSIONALISM, the two major targets for this incentives grant.

Student achievement: TAKS (Reading, ELA, Social Studies, Science. Mathematics)performance; attendance; Campus Rating, course passing rates, attendance

Professionalism: Collaboration ofteachers by deparlment and academy, teacherattendance, teacher years of service to Akins beginning with 2004/2005 the year ourstudent achievement increase qualified us for this state money, leadership evidence(grade level lead, CAC, DAC, PTSA member DL trainer, ctc.), tutoring; application olprofessional development in the classroom, literacy (reading, writing, researching)teaching/coaching evidence across the cuniculum; supporting students outside ofclass.

Cecilia is workinc on a visual for this.

Questions which must still be answered: Will we use a point system or a check-offsystem? Will teachers be able to eam partial incentives? Should we connect advisoryellbrt/effectiveness to professionalism? There will be others too as we work throush thisprocess.

Deadline chanse: Our plan must be approved by the CAC on August 30, 2006, in orderto progress through the timeline.

Next meetins: Tuesday, August 15, 2006-Eagle's Nest, 4:30-5:15pm

Excellence Committee Meeting MinutesAugust 30, 2006

8:15-8:45 a.m., Room 115

Committee members in attendance: Donna Detjery Grant Coordinator; Mary Racine,ELA72, Campus ILT; Jodi Leckbee, Academy Coordinator, ELA 11; Janet Larkin, ELADepartment Chair, ELA 10 &12; Tammy Caesar, MIP 11-12; John Ellis, CATE Chair,Project Lead The Way 9-12, Computer Applications 9-12.

Donna Detjen chaired the meetlng

Item 1: Compiled plan was presented to committee members present to review fortonight's CAC meeting. Donna will present the plan to the CAC and answer questionsthat might arise.

Item 2: Committee members read the plan draft and made suggestions forimprovement and inclusion of all applicable elements of the plan as previouslymentioned.

Item 3: Committee members present voted to present the plan to CAC tonight and tothe faculty and staff by the end of the week. Voting will be by ballot in the teacherworkroom. Teachers will need to sign their names or e-mail their vote in order to ensurevoter integriw.

Item 4: Meeting adjourned for 1't period classes.

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Texas Educator's Excellence GranrCommittee l\rembers

W. Chartes Akins High School

Donna Detjen, Grants Coordjnator (3'd year at Akins)N4ary Racine, ELA 12, Campus ILT (7ti year at Akins)Dianne Maddox. Academy Coordinator. Science t O (7 . vear at Akins)Jodi Leckbee, Academy Coordinator, ELA t 1 t5'5 vear ai AkinsrLinda Evan. Academy Coordinator. ELA l2 (1. vear at Akins)Cecil ia cutrenez. Academy Coordinator, ELA t2 (5 vear at Akins)Ursula Pinner, Languages Other Than English Chair, French g_.12 (7rh year at Akins)Patricia Lopinski. Special Ed Chair (4' ' year at Akjns)Stephan Aurrey. Math Dept. Chair. Atgebra 9 (1 'year

at Akins)Janet Larkin, ELA Dept. Chair. ELA .10-12 (7" year at Akins)Sharon Kay Fayad, Social Studies Dept. Chair, World History (4'h year at Akins)Leann T-ripson, Scrence Dept. Chair, Env Sys I lpC .10

12"d year'at Akins)John Ell is. CATE Dept. Chair. project Lead The Way. Compuier Applications, 9_.12 (6 vear al Akins)rammy uaesar. New lech High Representative. l\,4anagement lntern program l.l_12 (4" year at Aki;s)lonya Kallfelz. Dan-ce g-12 (7

- year at Akins)

Penola Edwards. 9 -

Grade Team Leader, Algebra 9 (1 , year at AKjns)Vivian Holland-l\redrna. Fine Arts Dept. Chajr, nrt g_t Z tO'- Vear at Akins)l\y'aureen Siegel. Theatre Arts 9-12 (6'" year at Akins)l\,4ary Smith, 9'n Grade Team Leader, Wbrtd Ceografny S (3d year at Akins)Crystal N,,t itchett, gth Grade Team Leader, tpc g lvio i O t+. i". "t 'efi"")

SUBJECT:

PRESENTER:

(Texas Educator Excellence Grant)(September 25.2006)

Page 1 of 3

Governof s Educator Excellence Award Grant Program -Texas Educator Excellence Grant (R-2)

Jul ie Lyons

RECOMMENDATION

Approval of the incentive plans designed by the 20campuses el igible for the Texas Educator Excel lence Grant.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In May, the Board approved the incentive plans developedby Blackshear and Oak Springs as part of f i rst Governor'sEducator Excellence Award Grant Program. The first cyclewere three-year grants with $60,000 allocated each year forca m p us-d evelo ped incentive plans.

In July, the Texas Education Agency noti f ied the Distr ict that20 campuses were el igible to apply for the second cycle ofthe Governois Educator Excellence Award Grant Program -Texas Educator Excel lence Grant. The camDuses. and theirfunding al locations, are:

High SchoolsAkinsCrockettLanierTravis

Middle SchoolsDobieMendez

Elementary SchoolsAll isonAndrewsBarringtonBlantonCookHoustonJ OrO anLinderMaplewood

$230,000$220,000$210,000$200,000

$120,000$120,000

$ 75,000$ 90,000$120,000$ 90,000$125,000$125,000$ 90,000$135,000$ 45,000

MetzNormanRidgetopRodriguezWiden

(Texas Educator Excellence Grant)(September 25, 2006)

Page 2 of 3

$ 75,000$ 75,000$ 40,000$120,000$120,000

The campuses received this award based on their havingMath and/or Reading TAKS scores within the top quartilewith respect to Comparable lmprovement, based on the2004-05 results. The purpose of the grant is to provide asystem of financial incentives to award educators whodemonstrate the abi l i ty to achieve higher levels of studentacademic oerformance.

The grant award is for one year only, and 7 5o/o of it must bespent only for incentive awards for classroom teachers(defined as an educator who teaches in an academicinstructional setting not less than an average of four hoursper day.) The plans must address areas A and B and mayinclude areas C and D as noted below.

A. Success in improving student performanceusing objective, quanti f iable measuresAND

B. Collaboration with faculty and staff thatcontr ibute to improving overal l studentperformance on the campusAND/OR

C. Teacher's assignment in area that isexperiencing a critical shortage ofteachers or has had high turnoverAND/OR

D. Teacher's demonstrat ion of on-goinginit iat ive, commitment, personalization,professional ism, and involvement in otheractivities that directly result in improvedstudent performance

In order to receive any incentive, the teacher must meet thestandards set under A and B. The amount of the award oerteacher and what criteria must be met to receive the awardmust be determined by a campus team, with signif icantteacher involvement, and approved by the Campus AdvisoryCounci l (CAC).

(Texas Educator Excellence Grant)(September 25,2006)

Page 3 of 3

The remaining 25% must be used to provide incentives toother nonteaching staff and/or for activities such asprofessional development and teacher mentoring support.

ADM I N ISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS

Teacher committees were formed at the campuses andthese committees developed the incentive plans withassistance from central administration. The plans have beenapproved by the CACs and the Distr ict Advisory Counci l , andreviewed by the Superintendent. The plans award teacherincentives based on point systems or fixed stipend amountsfor specific achievements and/or for service at high needscampuses. The plans also award incentives to nonteachingstaff.

This grant is due at TEA by no later than October 5. We areasking that the Board of Trustees acknowledge receipt of thegrant proposals. The AISD Teacher Compensation andSupport Task Force wil l be reviewing these plans, and wil lreport to the Board on what they learned from them andwhether they are feasible for district-wide replication.

ACTION REQUIRED

Board approval.

CONTACT PERSON(S)

Jul ie LyonsMaria WhitsettMichael Houser